Headed
for the top
 |
|
Cpl
Leah Kite heads into the scrum against Sydney White at the
Telstra Australian Women’s Invitational Rugby Tournament
in Sydney.
Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper
|
By
Rachel Irving
THE Australian Services Rugby Union women’s team came away
from this month’s 2004 Telstra Australian Women’s Invitational
Tournament in Sydney with one win and a lot of valuable experience.
The win, a 19-7 thrashing over the Lloyd McDermott Developmental
side, was the highlight of the round robin competition, which
saw the ASRU women also take on Victoria, NSW Country, tournament
winners Sydney White and in the final, South Australia.
Head coach WO2 Barry Carr said that playing against teams from
around the country was the best way for the players to improve
their rugby.
“We’ve played the three top teams in Australia (Vic,
NSW Country and Sydney White), and the only way they could score
tries was to go around us,” he said.
“Women’s club rugby is not the best, but coming together
at an invitational tournament like this works wonders for their
confidence.”
On lessons learnt from the competition, ASRU player Capt Katey
Millar said the team was well on its way.
“If we can get our structure together and play proper phase
ball then it doesn’t matter how big or experienced they are,
we will be able to get the ball out and around them,” she
said.
The ASRU women, who only went into camp four days before the tournament,
played well aginst teams who have been playing together for months.
“The other teams have a six month lead-up where they train
together. This year the ASRU women’s team came into camp
reasonably late and didn’t get the games,” WO Carr said.
“Next year we’ll look at coming into camp a little bit
earlier to give us more time to bond as a team.
“They displayed a lot of heart and I’m very-very proud
of them. I can see the girls going further.”
Interested players can contact Capt Julie Green at Julie.Green@defence.gov.au.
Army players:
Cpl Kerry Telford
Cpl Kelly Hammant
Capt Julie Green
Pte Kate Harrington
Pte Lauren Berkley
Lt Bryony Barker
Maj Tanya Bennett
Sgt Cassandra Sutton
Capt Sarah Hingston
Capt Katie Millar
Pte Julie Peard
Cpl Emily Sapwell
Cpl Leah Kite
OCdt Kate Porter
Capt Rebecca Talbot
